Google Apps for .Edu in action.

[>> baci]

As a project manager for the migration to Google Apps for .Edu at the
College of St. Scholastica (in Duluth, MN). I get feedback from our
community about how it's going (we made the switch on August 16th of
this year). I thought I'd share an experience that was related to me
by one of our on-line advisers. She's also an adjunct faculty in a
medical terminology course.

Hi Christopher,

I'm so excited, I just had to tell someone! I am teaching a course
online this fall (as an adjunct), and the course (medical language)
requires the students call in to take an oral exam as a part of each
learning module. One student of mine lives in Africa and was
concerned about the cost of an international phone call to take the
test. I suggested using the video chat function in Gmail. She was
reluctant, but I finally talked her into it....and it was
FABULOUS!!!!! What a great way to build a connection to students
internationally (or anywhere else for that matter). I love the added
functions we have with Gmail!

--
Gwen Smith, RHIA
Online Student Advisor
The College of St. Scholastica
1200 Kenwood Ave
Duluth, MN 55811

So, how would we use a Gig? We'd expand on this and many other digital
collaborative fronts.

[Chad Pierson]

Hear, Hear-- to connecting students and educators! I teach
mathematics at University of Minnesota, Duluth and have been using
Adobe Connect and my tablet PC to connect with my students during
"online office hours." I typically have these at 9pm on a weeknight
so that I can target a time when students are actually working on
their homework (it also allows me time to get my kids to bed and I can
work from home in my pajamas). Typically 20 - 30 students log on
(which is far more than I can fit into my tiny office, and more than
usually come to my 'in person' office hours) and we generally have a
good discussion. In a typical hour, students ask me to do several
example problems, they ask questions and I often find that the
students answer one another's questions as well. I am fortunate that
the Universities servers permit me to record these sessions and I am
able to post them on my website--further providing help to students
who were unable to log on during the online office hour session. I
feel that this format engages the students inside their comfort zone
and encourages participation and accessibility with mathematics. The
only limitation that I see right now is bandwidth. The current system
would permit everyone logged on to share microphones and webcams, but
with so many students accessing the session at the same time we are
limited to using the text chat feature. It would be exciting to be
able to share our voices and video components as we work on common
problems from various locations. Teaching mathematics online is not
yet a perfect platform to reach students... but I can almost see it
from here!

Chad Pierson
Instructor of Mathematics
University of Minnesota, Duluth